Westminster’s New Selective Licensing Scheme Comes Into Force 

Westminster’s new landlord licensing scheme came into effect on 24 November 2025  – do you need a license for your rental property? Landlords across 15 wards out of the 18 wards that make up Westminster will now need to apply to the council for a licence, if you don’t already hold one.  

Current HMO licensing laws (mandatory and additional licensing schemes) are unchanged, but if you rent out a standard residential property then you are likely to need a landlord licence to rent out to tenants. To do this, landlords must apply to Westminster City Council and meet certain standards. Those who don’t, could risk enforcement action with a financial penalty up to £30,000 or prosecution with an unlimited fine. 

The new landlord licence has been introduced to ensure that tenants can live in decent homes, that are safe and well-managed. Another aspect of the scheme is to prevent anti-social behaviour in areas where there’s a reported link with private rented properties.  

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters, Councillor Ellie Ormsby, said: “We know that while many landlords provide good quality and safe homes, too many residents are living in substandard and sometimes dangerous conditions. Selective licensing gives us the tools to intervene and support both tenants and landlords.” 

Three wards are excluded from the new Westminster landlord licensing scheme, which are: 

• Vincent Square 
• St James’ 
• Pimlico South 

The selective licensing scheme in Designation 1 is being put in place due to high instances of poor housing conditions in these areas. As acknowledged by the council, many landlords already maintain high standards, but these measures are designed to bring others into line – and reduce undercutting by landlords who provide poor quality accommodation.  

Designation 1 of Westminster’s selective licensing scheme applies to the following 8 wards: 

• Westbourne 
• Queen’s Park 
• Little Venice 
• Maida Vale 
• Abbey Road 
• Harrow Road 
• Church Street 
• Knightsbridge and Belgravia 

Designation 2 of the new Westminster selective licence scheme focuses on areas where poor housing conditions are reported, along with “significant and persistent problems caused by anti-social behaviour linked to private rented housing”.  

The 7 wards covered by Designation 2 of Westminster’s licensing scheme are: 

• West End 
• Pimlico North 
• Lancaster Gate 
• Hyde Park 
• Bayswater 
• Marylebone 
• Regent’s Park 

Read more on Westminster City Council website and check the selective property licensing criteria here.